On the two graves from the Dridu-tell Cover Image

Despre cele două morminte din tell-ul de la Dridu
On the two graves from the Dridu-tell

Author(s): Liana Oţa, Migdonia Georgescu, Zizi Baltă
Subject(s): Archaeology
Published by: Editura Academiei Române
Keywords: Dridu-tell; graves; inhumation; grave-goods; funerary ritual; glass; metal; alloy; Sarmatians;

Summary/Abstract: Two inhumation graves (M. 1 and M. 2) were found in 1958, buried inside of a so-called tell, situated north of the medieval settlement. The two funerary structures were briefly described and published without any kind of illustration. The discussion about the two graves is completed now with additions found in the journal of the excavations written by Eugenia Zaharia, a detailed description, with drawings and photos, of the grave-goods, the results of the chemical composition of glass beads and metal items (except those made of iron). Microscopic investigation of the glass beads from M. 2 made possible their morphological characteristics to be revealed. The characteristic features of the funerary ritual and the grave-goods of M. 2 were already analyzed in another paper. This study aims only to complete a few observations regarding M. 2, dated during the second stage of the Sarmatian presence in Walachia. The connection of M. 1 with the Sarmatians cannot be completely excluded. However, too many questions regarding the funerary ritual (more precisely the presence of burning spots on some of the bones, the fact that the skeletal remains were not found in anatomical connection, but disturbed) and the grave-goods (only small fragments of items made of bronze, iron and wood were found) raise doubts and explain why M. 1 was considered rather as an uncertain Sarmatian grave.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 11
  • Page Range: 143-156
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Romanian